Indiana Spending: Education Largest Component – Public Schools Still Get Most Money

Much has been made about the lack of education spending around the country but here in the Hoosier state at least half of the tax dollars collected will go to education. Indiana spends more money on primary education than any other budget component. Indiana will spend almost $7 billion on education for the 2016-17 school year.

The vast majority of that money will end up in traditional public schools. This would appear to be contrary to the commonly held belief that charter schools and school vouchers are taking most of the money.

A few key points on how Indiana funding works:

Money follows the child. If a student doesn’t want to attend a traditional public school, they can go to a charter or use a voucher for a private school.

Property Tax-Money, which is commonly, used for education funding in other states, can NOT be used for classroom spending in Indiana. Only transportation, building projects, and other non-classroom spending.

Schools can get more instructional money if voters agree to pay more property tax.